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Reuters • Monday March 10, 2014 7:30 AM

CAIRO — The Arab League yesterday endorsed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ rejection of
Israel’s demand for recognition as a Jewish state, as U.S.-backed peace talks approach a deadline
next month.

The United States wants Abbas to make the concession as part of efforts to reach a “framework
agreement” and extend the talks aimed at settling the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The council of the Arab League confirms its support for the Palestinian leadership in its
effort to end the Israeli occupation over Palestinian lands, and emphasizes its rejection of
recognizing Israel as a ‘Jewish state,’ ” Arab foreign ministers said in a statement in Cairo.

Arab governments, distracted by the upheaval convulsing the region since the 2011 Arab
uprisings, have previously taken few stands on the foundering peace talks, leaving Abbas
isolated.

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s first prime minister to make recognition of his country as a
Jewish state a requirement for peace. The issue lately has overshadowed other stumbling blocks over
borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.

Palestinians fear the label would lead to discrimination against Israel’s sizable Arab minority,
while Israelis say it recognizes Jewish history and rights to the land.

“In recognizing the Jewish state, you (Palestinians) would finally make clear that you are truly
prepared to end the conflict,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

“So recognize the Jewish state, no excuses, no delays. It is time,” he said in a speech to the
pro-Israel AIPAC lobby.

Abbas complained on Saturday that Palestinians were being asked for something that had not been
demanded of Arab countries that have previously signed peace treaties with Israel.

“We recognized Israel in mutual recognition in the (1993) Oslo agreement — why do they now ask
us to recognize the Jewishness of the state?” he asked.

“Why didn’t they present this demand to Jordan or Egypt when they signed a peace agreement with
them?” Abbas said.

The United States is hoping to get the two sides to agree on some general points, including the “
Jewish state” issue and a rough understanding on borders, as part of what it calls a framework
deal that could lead to the prolongation of the talks, which have achieved little since they began
seven months ago.